Dogs who help humans get free eye exams

Dr. Jessica Stine, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist for BluePearl, conducts an eye exam on a therapy dog named Ruger.

Some of the dogs who came to the hospital on Wednesday are seeing-eye dogs and some are “mobility” dogs, who open doors and pick things up for disabled owners. Others are therapy dogs, calming influences for children with disabilities or who just need a soothing presence as they learn to read.

“I enjoy giving back to the service dog community,” said Dr. Jessica Stine of BluePearl, who performed the exams. “We’re making sure they don’t have any eye problems, so they can do their jobs to the best of their ability.”

Ruger, who came in for an eye exam on Wednesday, has a badge that says “I am a therapy dog.”

Stine is a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and, like other BluePearl specialists, she has received years of additional training to become a specialist in her field. Others helping the service dogs on Wednesday included BluePearl’s Dr. Jennifer Ortolani and veterinary technicians Christina Page and Nicole Palumbo.